This mystery artist has the initials GAM which are on each of a series of five scrimshaws on a sterling silver bracelet. The work was more than likely done in the late 70’s to early 80’s. This particular item was done in full color, which I’ve not seen very often, and was well taken care of – the colors are still vivid. Most times they were done with black ink only.
“Story bracelets” as they are known were quite popular, Al Doucette, a modern scrimshaw artist making quite a number of them during the 1970’s through into this century. The stories vary from the sorrowful goodbye and happy return to life on the shores and on the ship, “made for their beloved during their idle times at sea”, or so the story goes. Whaling was a rough life with little to show for it unless you were the captain or the owner of the vessel, and many scrimshaws of practical use were made to enhance the salaries of the sailors.
With the renewed interest of scrimshaw starting in the early nineteen sixties (President John F. Kennedy was an avid collector of scrimshaw), these bracelets became popular since they were easily worn and carried – much easier than lugging a whale’s tooth in one’s purse. I’m not sure if there are any that were made before that time.
And here we are in the twenty first century, mementos of distant and recent ages being passed down often with scant memories of their parents or grand parents stories of when they had gotten their treasured items, often dates and general locations are remembered, and little known of the artists whose practiced hands wrought the pictures and jewelry.
The “Mystery Artist” blogs as well as some other sites (such as Jim Steven’s site) hope to add the names and histories of the artists. Can you help? Any information about the artist “GAM” would be appreciated, and will add to the stories of the scrimshaws themselves that are treasured to this day. Please feel free to contact us through this site with any information you may have.
